Seat that can be converted into a sleeping-berth

ABSTRACT

In a block of seats side by side which can be converted individually between a chair configuration and a horizontal flat bed configuration, and the seats are arranged and oriented substantially in the same direction, the longitudinal axes of two of the seats in the bed configuration converge towards a point situated in front of the seats at a distance such that the foot areas in front of the seats in the bed configuration, where the feet of an occupant of the seat are located in normal use, are superposed. The bed planes of the seats of a block are vertically offset and extended by rest surfaces of the foot areas arranged in a column arranged between the seat backs of the seats of a block situated in front, making it possible to reduce the seat pitch whilst not affecting comfort and allowing an improved cabin layout for transporting passengers.

The present invention belongs to the field of fitting out cabins ofmeans of passenger transport.

More particularly, the invention relates to a seat which can beconverted into a bed which is particularly suited to the requirements ofpassenger cabins, for example aircraft cabins.

Within the field of transporting people, it is known to offer a seatwhich can be converted during the journey to passengers who have to makea relatively long journey so that the passenger can choose between aseated position and a relaxed position, where the relaxed position cancorrespond to a lying flat position.

A chair which can be converted into a bed proves to be a particularlyadvantageous solution when the length of the journey makes it relativelyuncomfortable to remain in a seated position throughout the journey andwhen the journey is nevertheless sufficiently short not to justifyindividual cabins.

This type of solution is found, for example, in the cases of long-haulaeroplanes where a journey includes just one period of sleep and wherethere is often a very limited amount of space available.

This is also the case for some journeys by train, coach or boat,depending on the length of the journey.

It is known to produce chairs for which a combined movement of the seatcushion, the seat back and a leg rest positioning these different partsof the chair substantially horizontal in a same plane makes it possibleto form a bed which may be extended by a bench fixed at the same heightas the bed plane. Such chairs which can be converted into a flat bedoffer the desired comfort but, when a large number of them are installedin a passenger cabin, they entail a longitudinal distance between theseats (the cabin seat pitch) which is at least equal to the length ofthe bed obtained, and usually a greater distance when an occupant of aseat adjacent to another seat needs to access an aisle which is not nextto them.

This type of comfort, which requires a lot of space, is hence reservedfor luxury cabins and means that the number of seats which can beinstalled in a given cabin length is limited.

In order to increase the number of seats in a cabin whilst reducing thedistance between seats, it is also known to limit the movements of theparts of the seat so as to bring the seat into a mean horizontal orhighly inclined position but with the angles between the different parts(seat cushion and seat back, on the one hand, and seat cushion and legrest, on the other hand) being maintained so as to obtain a profile inthe shape of a flattened Z.

The saving in the length of the seat in this so-called “relaxedposition” allows a cabin layout with a reduced seat pitch compared withthe flat bed solution but it is less comfortable and is generallyunsatisfactory for passengers in business or first class.

Another known solution for reducing the seat pitch in the case of a flatbed or a relaxed position consists in arranging a space beneath the seatin front of another seat, into which the occupant of the seat behindputs their feet.

However, this solution proves to be detrimental to comfort as it doesnot allow passengers to lift up their feet enough and, in the case of aflat bed, means that the bed is not horizontal but substantiallyinclined to the horizontal.

The fierce competition in the field of transport thus creates adifficult compromise between a cabin with seats having an integral andhorizontal flat bed, which is commercially very attractive, and a cabinhaving more seats without such a flat bed, which is thus more profitableeconomically but less attractive commercially.

The present invention relates to the fitting out of a cabin fortransporting passengers, in which the seats can be converted into flatbeds and in which the seat pitch is substantially less than the lengthof the bed, for example equivalent to that which would be needed forseats having a relaxed position.

Such a result is obtained by implementing the seats of the inventionwhich are arranged in blocks of two seats.

In a block of seats of the invention having at least two seats, eachseat can be converted individually by a relative movement of elements ofthe seat between a chair configuration in which an occupant of the seatis in a seated position and a bed configuration in which the elements ofthe seat are placed so as to form a bed plane and in which an occupantof the seat is stretched out substantially flat and substantiallyhorizontally.

The two seats in question of a block are arranged side by side andoriented substantially in the same direction, and:

-   -   each seat is associated with a foot space or area situated in        front of the seat when the seat is in the bed configuration and        in the extension of the bed plane, which space corresponds to        the position of an occupant of the seat in the bed        configuration;    -   the longitudinal axis of each of the seats in the bed        configuration converges towards a convergence point situated in        a vertical plane of symmetry of the block in front of the seats        such that the foot areas of the two seats of the block are at        least partially superposed in a vertical projection;    -   when the two seats are in the bed configuration, the bed planes        of the two seats are at different heights relative to the floor        of a cabin in which the block would be installed.

A bed part thus extends towards the front of the seat beyond the surfaceobtained by the relative movement of the elements of the seat enablingthe length of the seat in the bed configuration to be reduced to alength L1 which is less than the length L0 of the bed, and interferencebetween the foot areas of the two seats in the bed position of a sameblock is avoided by the vertical offset of the two bed planes.

In order to compensate for the reduced length of the seats in the bedconfiguration, a separating space is arranged in a rear part of theblock substantially between the seat backs of the two seats, when thetwo seats are in the chair configuration.

The separating space is occupied by a substantially vertical column,this column covering in a vertical projection foot areas of the seats ofa similar block which would be placed behind the block in question, inthe same direction and substantially with the same axis, at a separatingdistance between the two blocks, the pitch X of the blocks in a layout,which is less than a desired length L0 of the bed of the similar blockbehind. The space corresponding to this column thus makes it possible tocreate, between the two seats of a block in front of a block with oneseat in the bed configuration, a space for extending the bed of theblock situated behind by the desired length.

Considering the height of the seat cushion of the seats in the chairconfiguration as the reference height above the floor, the verticaloffset of the two bed planes of the seats of a block is obtained by oneof the bed planes in the bed configuration above the seat cushion in thechair configuration, or by at least one of the bed planes below the seatcushion in the chair configuration for at least one of the seats of theblock.

To distribute the vertical offset between the bed planes and limit theamplitudes of the vertical movements of the seats, the bed plane of oneof the seats is preferably above a vertical position of the seatcushions of the seats in the chair configuration and the bed plane ofanother of the seats is below the position of the seat cushions.

So that each bed of a block situated behind a block in question, in thesame direction and substantially with the same axis, has an independentbed surface, the column has two foot areas which are separate from eachother and open in the direction facing the rear of the block.

Each foot area comprises a rest surface substantially in a horizontalplane, and the foot areas are offset vertically so that one of the restsurfaces is situated level with one of the bed planes of the block so asto be situated in the extension of the bed plane having the same heightin the block situated behind the block in question, and another of therest surfaces is situated level with the other bed plane in question soas to be situated in the extension of this other bed plane of the blocksituated behind the block in question.

In an embodiment, the bed plane of a seat in the bed configuration isdetermined by the seat cushion of the said seat, the seat back of thesaid seat, a leg rest of the said seat and/or one or more movablepanels, the plane being extended by a rest surface of a foot area of asimilar block which would be placed in front of the block in questionor, for the first block of a line of blocks, of an isolated columnhaving characteristics similar to the column of such a similar block,the seat cushion, the seat back, the leg rest, the movable panel orpanels and the rest area being aligned substantially horizontally and ina same plane to form the bed.

In another embodiment, the bed plane of a seat in the bed configurationis determined by the seat cushion of the said seat, the seat back of thesaid seat and a leg rest of the said seat, the said leg rest forming atleast partially a rest surface of a foot area which penetrates a hollowspace of the column of a similar block which would be placed in front ofthe block in question or of an isolated column having similarcharacteristics to the column of such a similar block, the said seatcushion, seat back and leg rest being aligned substantially horizontallyand in a same plane so as to form the bed. In this embodiment, thestructure of the column is simplified by limiting the number ofpartitions, which also makes it simpler to maintain and clean.

In order to ensure that the foot areas, in particular the foot area ofthe lowest bed, have a sufficient volume and in particular a sufficientheight of approximately 300 mm in order to satisfy the comfort of thepassengers, the bed planes of two adjacent seats are vertically offsetby a distance of approximately 330 mm when the seats are both in the bedconfiguration.

This sufficient height in general makes it possible to limit theamplitude of the up and down movements of the seats and simplify themechanical parts responsible for permitting the movements in question.

The column of a block, the dimensions of which are imposed at least bythose of the foot areas which need to be available, forms a large volumewhich is not used by the foot areas and which advantageously makes itpossible to integrate relatively easily technical equipment for theblock and/or comfort or entertainment equipment which can be used by theoccupants of the seats of a block situated behind the block in question.

The separation between two adjacent seats advantageously comprises aclosed structure between two seats, which closed structure comprises aside trim panel on a side of the closed structure corresponding to theseat in which the seat cushion is lowered during the conversion into thebed position, the said side trim panel being removable when the saidseat in which the seat cushion is lowered is in the bed configuration.It is thus possible to access the internal volume of the closedstructure and the equipment installed there without having todisassemble mechanical parts of the seat.

In order to improve the storage capacities of a block, the blockadvantageously comprises, in its rear part, a recess forming a storagespace between the level of a floor to which it is intended to fix theblock and the height of the lowest bed, running across the width of thesaid block. Such a storage space, with a width corresponding to thewidth of the block, makes it possible to place long objects which areusually difficult to stow.

In an embodiment, a block comprises exactly two seats with convergentlongitudinal axes.

In another embodiment, a block comprises exactly three seats, twoadjacent seats of the three seats of the block having convergentlongitudinal axes, the third seat having a longitudinal axissubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the seat closest toit in the block, the said seat closest to it being a seat having a seatcushion which moves up when the seat is converted into the bedconfiguration.

Thus, by arranging a block of two seats or a block of three seatsaccording to the invention, it is possible to optimize the layout of agiven vehicle in which the cabin has limitations in terms of itsgeometric dimensions, in particular its width.

The invention also relates to a cabin or a part of a cabin fortransporting passengers having at least one line of at least two blocksof seats, in which blocks each seat of a block of seats can be convertedindividually, by a relative movement of the elements of the seat,between a chair configuration in which an occupant of the seat is in aseated position and a bed configuration in which the elements of theseat form a bed plane and in which an occupant of the seat is stretchedout substantially flat and substantially horizontally, in which blocksthe seats are arranged side by side and oriented substantially in thesame direction, the at least two blocks being arranged one behind theother in the same direction of orientation of the seats and separated,in a direction of the line of blocks, by a pitch X characterizing thedistance between a reference point of each of the blocks.

In the cabin of the invention, for each of the seats of a block,following another block which precedes it in the direction oforientation of the seats, in the bed configuration a bed plane of eachseat is extended by a foot area situated in front of the seat, insidethe block preceding it, in a built-in space, or column, between the seatbacks of the seats of the preceding block.

Furthermore, in order to prevent interference between the spacesoccupied by the beds of a block in the column of the block preceding itin a line, the bed planes of the seats of a block in the bedconfiguration are at different heights above a floor of the cabin, andin order to make it easier for a passenger occupying the highest bed tomove between their seat and the aisle of the cabin, a seat of a blockwith a bed plane situated vertically closest to the floor of the cabinis situated on the side of the block bordered by an aisle.

The cabin thus offers passengers beds with a length greater than theseat pitch, which makes it possible to increase the number of seats fora given cabin length or to reduce the length of the cabin for a numberof seats installed.

In order to adapt to the limitations of the layout of a given cabin orto provide beds with different dimensions, the pitch X of the blocks ofat least one line of blocks is modified to form beds of differentlengths L0 in the bed configuration, depending on the block in question.

The frontmost block in a line of blocks is advantageously preceded, atthe front in a direction of orientation of the seats of the said line,by a built-in column similar to a column of a block so as to have thesame sleeping comfort on the seats of a first block at the front of aline of blocks by employing a block according to the other blocksemployed in the line of blocks and generally in the cabin.

A vehicle for transporting passengers, in particular a land transportvehicle or a sea transport vehicle or alternatively an air transportvehicle, featuring such a cabin makes it possible to provide, with animproved passenger density, the degree of comfort of an actual flat bed,in particular when the journey length does not justify, in terms of theservice offered, separate passenger cabins.

Description of non-limiting embodiments of the invention is made withreference to the drawings in which, schematically:

FIG. 1 a shows a view from above of a set of three aligned blocks of twoseats according to the invention in a passenger cabin according to afirst embodiment;

FIG. 1 b shows a partially exploded view from above of a set of twoaligned blocks of two seats according to the invention in a secondembodiment;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show perspective views, from behind in FIG. 2 a andfrom the front in FIG. 2 b, of the set of three blocks in FIG. 1 a;

FIGS. 2 c and 2 d show perspective views from behind of the set of twoblocks in FIG. 1 b, in the bed configuration in FIG. 2 c and in thechair configuration in FIG. 2 d;

FIG. 3 shows an example of a layout of an aeroplane cabin according tothe invention;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show perspective views of a block configured to form astorage compartment for long objects, from behind in FIG. 4 a and fromthe side in FIG. 4 b;

FIG. 5 shows details of the arrangement of movable protective caps of aseat with the seat cushion lowered into the bed configuration,illustrated in three positions of the seat cushion;

FIG. 6 shows a view from above of a set of three aligned blocks of threeseats according to the invention in a passenger cabin;

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b show perspective views of an example of thearrangement of a block of three seats which can be converted into beds,from behind in FIG. 7 a and from the front in FIG. 7 b.

The present invention relates to a seat 3 which can be converted betweena chair configuration in which an occupant of the seat is in a seatedposition and a flat bed position in which an occupant of the seat isstretched out substantially flat and substantially horizontally.

More particularly, the invention relates to a side-by-side arrangementof at least two seats which can be converted individually into flatbeds, referred to as block 2, and relates to a means of passengertransport, for example an aeroplane, in which a cabin 1 or part of acabin employs at least two blocks arranged in a line, one behind theother.

In the present description and the associated drawings, a referencenumber designating a same or similar element will, where appropriate, befollowed by the suffix “a” when it refers to the element in a “chair”configuration of the seat, by the suffix “b” when it refers to theelement in a “relaxed” configuration of the seat, and by the suffix “c”when it refers to the element in a “bed” configuration of the seat,these different configurations being detailed in the followingdescription.

For example, a seat generally has the reference number 3, the referencenumber 3 a designating a seat in the chair configuration, the referencenumber 3 b designating a seat in the relaxed configuration and thereference number 3 c designating a seat in the bed configuration.

FIG. 1 a shows in a view from above three blocks 2, of two seats in thisexample, aligned one behind the other in a row of blocks which maycomprise any number of blocks in a similar arrangement, depending on thedimensions of the cabin.

Although not obligatory, the seats are usually oriented with theoccupant of a seat facing the front of the cabin in the direction oftravel, symbolized by the arrow in the drawing, and this directionconvention will be used in the following detailed description.

In the present description, unless stated otherwise, generally the terms“front”, “rear”, “high”, “low”, “above”, “below”, “forwards”,“backwards”, “up”, “down” etc. have the meaning that would be understoodby an occupant of the seat relative to their position when seated in thechair configuration.

In FIG. 1 a, the seats 3 a of the frontmost block 2 a are illustrated inthe chair configuration, the seats 3 c of the middle block 2 c areillustrated in the flat bed configuration and the seats 3 b of the rearblock 2 b are illustrated in a relaxed configuration corresponding to anintermediate setting of the seats between the position of the chairconfiguration and the position of the flat bed configuration.

In a known manner, a seat 3 comprises mainly a seat cushion 31, a seatback 32 and possibly a leg rest 33.

In a likewise known manner, in the chair configuration of the seat 3 a,the seat back 32 a is straightened into a position close to the verticaland the leg rest 33, which cannot be seen in the view from above of theseats 3 a of the front block 2 a, is folded down so as to reproduce theclassical configuration of a seat or chair.

In the flat bed configuration of the seat 3 c, the seat cushion 31 c,the seat back 32 c and the leg rest 33 c are in a substantiallyhorizontal position and aligned so as to form a bed plane 35.

Lastly, in the relaxed configuration of the seat 3 b, the seat cushion31 b and the seat back 32 b form an angle facing upwards, the seat backbeing inclined backwards, and where appropriate the seat cushion 31 band the leg rest 33 form an angle facing downwards, so that the seat 3 bhas a profile in the shape of a more or less open flattened Z.

Each seat has a longitudinal axis 34 corresponding in the view fromabove to the extension of a vertical plane of symmetry of the seat 3,and a block 2 has a longitudinal axis 24 corresponding in the view fromabove to the extension of a vertical plane of symmetry of the block, thetwo seats 3 of a block being themselves arranged side by side in theblock with a similar longitudinal position in the block 2 andsubstantially oriented in a same direction.

However, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 1 a or FIG. 1 b, the seats 3have the feature of not being oriented in exactly the same direction andthe longitudinal axes of each of the two seats of a block 2 convergetowards the axis of the said block in front of the seats.

In the preferred illustrated embodiments in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, thearrangement of the seats of a block is symmetrical and the axes of thetwo seats of the block converge in practice, as seen from above, towardsa same point of convergence situated in front of the seats,substantially in the vertical plane of symmetry of the block.

This convergent configuration is associated with a separating spacebetween the two seats 3 of a corresponding given block 2 between theseat backs of the said seats at the location of a column 4 integratedinto the structure of the block 2.

The column 4 is situated substantially at the point of convergence ofthe longitudinal axes 34 of the two seats 3 situated in a blockimmediately in the line of blocks behind the block 2 in question in aposition where the distance between the said longitudinal axes isreduced.

More particularly, the convergence of the longitudinal axes 34 of thetwo seats 3 is such that, when a seat 3 of a block situated just behindthe block 2 in question is placed in the flat bed configuration, thecolumn 4 is situated, when viewed from above, on the one handsubstantially in the extension of the bed formed, and on the other handin the region of the feet of an occupant of the seat in the bedconfiguration.

Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, the column 4 integrated intoa block is in the extension of the bed formed by each of the two seats 3c of the block 2 c situated immediately behind in the line of blocks.

In an embodiment corresponding to the case illustrated in FIG. 1 a, afeature of the seats of the invention is that the length L1, termed thebase length, of the bed surface formed by the seat back 32 c, the seatcushion 31 c and the leg rest 33 c of a seat, in the longitudinaldirection of the bed corresponding substantially to the direction of thelongitudinal axis 34 of the seat, is less than a desired length L0 forthe flat bed, and that a dimension of the column 4 in the directions ofthe axes 34 of the seats 3 of the block 2 situated behind the saidcolumn, termed the depth P of the column, corresponds substantially tothe additional length which must be added to the base length L1 toobtain the desired length L0 for the bed.

The column 4 of a block thus defines, in front of each seat 3 of theblock situated immediately behind, a space associated with each seat infront of the seat in question in the bed configuration, termed the footarea 41, into which, subject to the arrangements detailed below, thefeet of an occupant of the seat in the flat bed configuration can beintroduced if required by the size of the person.

It will thus be understood that the column 4 is, at least in theextension of each flat bed, on the one hand hollow and on the other handopen towards each seat 3 of the block 2 situated behind.

Furthermore, so that a passenger can rest their feet, a substantiallyhorizontal rest surface 42, possibly with a suitable padding for thispurpose, is positioned in the extension and at the same height as theother flat bed surfaces, as illustrated in FIG. 2 a.

It will also be understood that the depth P in question here is aninternal dimension of the hollow part of the column 4, the walls ofwhich necessarily have a certain thickness, even if this thickness maybe relatively small, given the limited loads to which the structure ofthe column 4 is subjected, and that the height of the rest surface 42 isfixed a priori.

Given their geometrical arrangements and the fact that the axes 34 ofthe two seats converge, when viewed from above, as illustrated in FIG. 1a, the foot areas 41, corresponding to the two seats of the blocksituated behind, of a same column 4 are superposed at least partially inthe region of an interference zone, especially when the said foot areasare sufficiently wide to guarantee the comfort of the occupant of theseat, both of whose feet must be able to simultaneously reach the end ofthe bed.

In order to overcome the apparent conflict between the volumes whichdetermine the foot areas 41 of a column 4, another feature of theinvention relates to the relative vertical positions of the flat bedplanes 35 of the two seats 3 of a same block 2.

With reference to FIG. 2 a which illustrates the set of three blocks inFIG. 1 in a perspective view partially from behind, it will be notedthat the foot areas 41 of a column 4 of a block 2 are vertically offsetsuch that each seat of the block situated behind has a dedicated footarea 41 totally isolated from the foot area of the other seat.

This vertical offset makes it possible to make use of the entirepossible depth and width of the column 4 for each foot area 41.

So that the vertically offset foot areas 41 can be used by the seats 3in the flat bed position, the bed plane 35 of each seat 3 is placed atthe same height as the rest surface 42 of the foot areas 41 which issituated in its extension, in other words the bed planes 35 of the twoseats 3 of a same block 2 in the flat bed position are verticallyoffset.

When the seats 3 of the invention are employed so as to be convertedfrom the chair configuration, in which the seat cushions 31 of the seats3 are a priori situated substantially at the same height with respect toa floor of the cabin, into a flat bed configuration, one of the seats 3of the block 2 is subjected to an overall downward movement, whereas theadjacent seat of the said block is subjected to an overall upwardmovement.

These downward and upward movements are in absolute terms relativemovements between the two seats, the important result being to obtainthe desired vertical offset with respect to the floor between the finalreclined positions and the vertical alignment of each bed plane 35 withthe corresponding rest surface 42.

In practice, to prevent large-amplitude vertical movements for one ofthe seats and also to prevent one of the beds being too high or too low,it is advantageous to share the vertical displacement to be performedbetween the two seats of the block.

The movements of a seat 3 of a block 2 are preferably independent of themovements of the other seat of the block.

In order to allow the downward displacement of the seat cushion 31 ofthe seat which is lowered during the conversion from the chair positioninto the bed position, protective trims 36 situated beneath the seatcushion are made to be movable so that they can fold away when the seatcushion is displaced.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in addition to their aesthetic purpose theprotective trims 36 have a safety role, preventing objects, clothing orpeople from getting stuck by the different moving parts or themechanisms performing the movement during a conversion. So that theprotective trim 36 correctly performs its function in all the positionsof the seat cushion, a lower part 362 of the trim situated beneath theseat cushion is articulated on an upper part 361 of this trim.

When the seat cushion 31 is in the chair position, in other words in theupper position for the chair in question, as in the detail a of FIG. 5,the lower part 362 of the trim is held down, for example by spring meansor any suitable elastic element, and when the seat cushion is displacedinto the bed position, in other words the lower position for the chairin question, the said lower part, articulated on the upper part 361 ofthe trim 36 or on structural elements of the seat cushion, is graduallypushed back (detail b and detail c of FIG. 5) so that it does notobstruct the movement of the seat 3 whilst continuing to protect theareas situated beneath the seat cushion 31.

In an embodiment, considering a standard value of the height of the seatcushion of a chair above the floor of the cabin of approximately 430 mm,the bed plane 35 of the seat which assumes the lowest position islowered by 130 mm so as to maintain the bed plane of this seat atapproximately 300 mm above the floor of the cabin, and the bed plane ofthe seat which assumes the highest position is raised by 200 mm, i.e. is330 mm above the lowest bed plane, so as to create a foot area 41 whichis at least 300 mm high for the lowest foot area, given the requiredthicknesses for the panels and padding.

The necessary movements of the different parts of the seats areperformed by any device having kinematics suitable for the desiredmovements and combinations of movements.

The desired vertical movement is, for example, obtained either by thesame device used for the movements of the parts of the seat 3 (seat back32, seat cushion 31 and leg rest 33) in order to effect the conversionbetween the chair configuration and the bed configuration, or isobtained by a separate device from the device which moves the parts ofthe seat 3 relative to one another, for example a mechanism dedicated tothe vertical movement such as a telescopic column or a scissor linkagesupporting the seat cushion and associated with an actuator (not shownin the drawings).

The different movements are advantageously performed by one or moreelectric actuators integrated into the seat and which are capable ofbeing controlled by the occupant of the seat.

In practice, the vertical movement of a seat 3 must be performed inorder to prevent the mechanical interference that could occur betweenthe two adjoining seats of a block 2 during the change into the flat bedconfiguration, in particular in the region of the frontmost part of theseat, for example the seat cushion 31 or the leg rest 33 when a leg restis used.

Where necessary, each seat 3 is provided with movement limiters in theform of mechanical stops or with an actuator control logic so as toprevent combinations of movements of moving parts of the seats whichcould cause mechanical interference.

The description of a preferred exemplary embodiment may havealternatives within the knowledge of a person skilled in the art withoutgoing beyond the scope of the present invention.

For example, a seat may not have an intermediate relaxed configurationbetween the chair configuration and the flat bed configuration, whichmakes it possible to simplify the kinematics and the means forcontrolling the movements of the seat 3 or, on the contrary, so that theoccupant of the seat has as many possible settings as possible, may havea plurality of intermediate positions and its position may even becontinuously adjustable between the extreme positions or between thechair configuration and an intermediate position.

In an embodiment, the seat 3 does not comprise a leg rest 33 or has aleg rest with reduced dimensions. The said seat mainly comprises a seatcushion 31 and a seat back 32, as detailed above, and possibly the legrest with reduced dimensions, which form a flat bed part. In thisembodiment, if a space remains open between a front edge of the seatcushion 31 or the leg rest in the bed configuration and the foot area41, the said open space is closed by a movable panel which is not shownbut is functionally equivalent to the leg rest 33 in the bedconfiguration position.

Such a movable panel is stored, when the seat is in the chairconfiguration, for example beneath the seat cushion 31 of the seat or inthe column 4 or in the foot area 41, or alternatively in a bench orpartition. The said movable panel is, for example, a sliding one or isarticulated or alternatively detachable and it may result from theassembly of panels which, when arranged in the deployed position,complete the flat bed surface 35.

In another embodiment, the leg rest on the contrary has a greater lengthso that, in the bed position, it extends at the front of the seat 3inside the hollow space of the column 4 in the foot area 41 and formsthe part of the bed plane extending the seat back and the seat cushionso as to obtain the desired length for the bed.

In this case, illustrated in FIGS. 1 b, 2 c and 2 d, the leg rest 33comprises a rest surface 42′ for the feet of the occupant of the bed,which rest surface 42′ replaces the rest surface 42 integrated into thefoot area 41 of the above-described embodiment. As in theabove-described embodiment, the bed planes 35 are vertically offset sothat the rest surfaces 42′ of the two seats 3 c, in practice the legrests 33, are at least partially superposed in the bed position in thecolumn 4.

In this embodiment, the hollow space of the column 4, which is open onthe rear side of the block 2, does not necessarily comprise integratedrest surfaces for the feet, or only comprises reduced surfaces (anoption which has not been illustrated) and the said hollow space nolonger, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 c and 2 d, comprises partitions whichcan obstruct the deployment of the leg rest 33 during the conversion.

In order to better separate the dedicated spaces for each occupant of aseat, partitions (not shown) may, however, be arranged in the hollowspace of the column 4 as long as these partitions do not interfere withthe leg rests.

In an embodiment which has not been illustrated, the orientation of theaxis 34 of a seat is modified depending on the configuration in whichthe seat is placed.

For example, the axis 34 of the seat is oriented parallel to the axis 24of the block when the seat is in the chair configuration or in therelaxed configuration, and the axis 24 of the seat is oriented so as toconverge towards a point of the axis of the block as described abovewhen the seat is in the bed configuration in order to take advantage ofthe column 4 of the block situated in front. The orientation of the axis34 of the seat is changed, for example, by rotation of the seat cushion31 during the conversion into or from the bed configuration.

As already specified, the orientations of the blocks 2 may differ fromthe direction of travel of the vehicle, in particular the blocks or someof the blocks of a cabin may be oriented with the front face of theblocks facing the rear of the vehicle, or may be more or less furtheraway from the axis of the vehicle in order to meet specific installationconstraints.

The limitations of these orientations are above all dictated by comfortreasons and possibly by safety or legal reasons, the benefit of theinvention being obtained by the arrangement in a line of at least twoblocks of seats as illustrated in the different figures.

In a preferred embodiment corresponding to the cases illustrated inFIGS. 2 a to 2 d, a block 2 of two seats comprises an outer shell 21which forms, with the seat cushion 31, the seat back 32 and the column4, the visible part of the block.

This shell 21, which is for example made from composite materialsbecause of the possibilities afforded by these materials in terms ofshapes that can be formed with advantageous rigidity and mass, takes theform of a single part or an assembly of parts and encloses themechanisms that perform the movements of the elements of the seats foraesthetic reasons and for the safety of the occupants of the seats.

The volumes of the column 4 in which the foot areas 41 are arranged andwhich are not occupied by the said foot areas are advantageously used toform volumes for stowing personal effects of the occupants of the seatsor for the installation of essential or auxiliary devices of the seatsuch as power supplies for the seat actuators and their safety devices,or such as comfort-providing equipment, individual lighting and airconditioning for example, or entertainment equipment for the occupantsof the seats, in particular video screens 43 as illustrated in FIG. 2,or alternatively storage spaces.

Because the foot area of the lowest bed is situated substantially abovethe floor of the cabin in which the blocks 2 are fixed, it isadvantageous to form, in the lower part at the rear of the block, aforward-directed recess, the height of which is less than that of thelowest bed, which determines a volume that runs across the blocklaterally.

Such a crosswise volume 23 is illustrated in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 2 c and 2 d and in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b. As clearly illustrated inFIGS. 4 a and 4 b, the volume 23 allows the occupants of the seats tostow long objects without them obstructing the passage of the occupantsor other passengers in the aisles and thus improves comfort and safety.

Other auxiliary elements are advantageously associated with the shell 21of a block.

In particular, a separating partition 22 for the two seats 3 of a block2, which can be seen in particular in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, is arranged infront of the column 4 integrated into the block in question.

In a preferred embodiment, this partition 22 has at least one at leastpartially retracted position which allows the occupants of the two seatsside by side to hold a conversation in good conditions, and at least oneextended position in which each occupant of a seat has a degree ofprivacy.

In an advantageous arrangement, technical means associated with a blockfor the operational requirements of the seats of the said block, forexample energy supply means, control or command equipment, oralternatively safety elements, are arranged between two seats of a blockinside a closed structure 24 separating the two seats. Moreover, theclosed structure 24 is provided with at least one removable side trimpanel 241 situated on the side of the seat 3 on which the seat cushionis lowered when the seat is placed in the bed configuration and suchthat means for fastening the said side panel to the said structure canbe accessed when the seat is in the bed position as illustrated, forexample, in FIG. 2 b.

In this position, the fastening means can then be easily removed and thetrim panel 241 taken off by a maintenance operative in a minimum amountof time and involving a minimum of operations, and the maintenanceoperative is able to readily access all of the equipment arranged in theintermediate structure 24 and placed in the said intermediate structure,by design, so that they can be reached without having to take out theseat 3.

Furthermore, although the drawings illustrate perfectly symmetricalblocks 2 of two seats shown to scale in the drawings, the symmetry ofthe blocks or the seats with respect to their respective planes ofvertical symmetry may be imperfect without going beyond the scope of thepresent invention.

For example, the two seats 3 of a same block 2 may have slightlydifferent longitudinal positions or angles of convergence with the axisof the block, for example for reasons of optimizing installation orassembly, without the benefits of the invention being jeopardized.

The invention also relates to a block 2 of three seats arranged side byside.

Such an arrangement of the block is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 a and 7 b.

In this case, two adjoining seats 3 of the three seats are arranged in asimilar manner to that described for a block of two seats, in otherwords in particular with the longitudinal axes 34 of the said two seatsconverging towards the front and the said two seats being verticallyoffset in the bed position, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 a and 7 b.

The third seat 3′ of the block in question is then arranged laterally onthe free side of the seat 3 with the highest bed and on the other sideof which the convergent seat is situated.

Furthermore, the said third seat 3′ is such that:

-   -   its longitudinal axis 34′ is substantially parallel to the axis        34 of the neighbouring seat which is thus the central seat of        the block of three seats;    -   its bed plane 35′ is preferably beneath the bed plane 35 of the        neighbouring seat, a priori at a height substantially        corresponding to the height of the bed plane of the seat        situated on the other side of the block of three seats.

Thus, in this arrangement, when the three seats of a block are in thebed position, the bed plane of the seat situated between the two otherseats, or the central seat, in the block is situated above the floor ata greater height than those of the seats situated on either side at thesides of the block.

Such a configuration makes it possible to arrange three seats abreast ina cabin with an aisle on each side of the block and allowing theoccupant of the central seat to access either of the aisles withoutbeing obstructed by the occupants of the seats situated to the sides ofthe block.

As can be seen in FIG. 6 in a view from above of an arrangement of threeblocks 2 of three seats, a secondary column 4′ is arranged in the rearpart of the block 2 between the central seat 3 and the seat 3′ with itslongitudinal axis 34′ substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 34of the said central seat.

The arrangement of this secondary column 4′ is facilitated by theangular offset of the axis 34′ of the seat 3′ relative to the axis 24 ofthe row of blocks corresponding, as in the case of the blocks of twoseats, to an axis of the general plane of symmetry of the seats 3, thelongitudinal axes 34 of which converge.

The secondary column 4′ of a block 2 of three seats also has a hollowspace making it possible to form a foot area 41′ for the occupant of thecorresponding seat of the block situated immediately behind the block inquestion and to provide an equivalent amount of comfort for the threeseats in the bed position.

It will be understood that the various embodiments and possible blockarrangements with blocks of two seats are also possible with blocks ofthree seats.

The invention also relates to an arrangement of a cabin 1 of a transportvehicle for transporting passengers, for example a cabin of a landvehicle such as a coach or a train, a sea transport vehicle such as asurface ship or an aircraft such as an aeroplane, in which arrangementof the seats 3 for the passengers at least one line of at least twoblocks of three seats 3 in accordance with the above-described blocksare arranged in lines of blocks 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates such an example of an arrangement of an aeroplanecabin having three lines of five blocks 2 of two seats, all orientedsuch that the passengers are in the chair configuration, sitting facingthe front of the aeroplane, these values of both the number of lines andthe number of blocks per line and this orientation being random for thepurpose of illustration and implying no limitation on the invention.

For industrial and economic reasons, the different blocks are preferablyidentical or differ only in secondary characteristics, for examplebecause of a specific position or environment in the cabin. However,cabin arrangements which combine blocks of two seats and blocks of threeseats are possible and can prove advantageous when the width of a cabinchanges, as is the case towards the front or the rear of an aeroplanefuselage.

In such an arrangement, the pitch X of the seats 3, in other words alsothe pitch of the blocks 2 of seats, corresponding to the distancebetween two successive blocks separating a reference point of the seats,is determined by the length L0 of the bed less the depth P of the footareas 41, and by the angle formed by the axis 34 of the seats relativeto the axis 24 of the line of blocks having a multiplying effect on thedistance required by the cosine of the said angle.

The blocks are preferably formed and arranged in the cabin in such a waythat the seat 3 of a block which has the lowest bed plane 35 relative tothe floor of the cabin in the bed configuration is situated next to anaisle.

Thus, when the occupant of the highest bed needs to step over the lowestbed to access an aisle, this movement is made much easier, especiallybecause, in its front part, the lower bed plane is partially beneath theupper bed plane, hence reducing the width to be stepped over.

This situation occurs in the case of the lines of blocks located to thesides of the cabin, along the walls of the fuselage in the case of FIG.3, the passenger occupying the bed next to the wall being able to accessthe aisle only by stepping over the bed next to the aisle.

This limitation also occurs in a layout employing blocks of three seatsor alternatively a configuration (not shown) which has two lines ofblocks without an aisle between the said two lines, for example in aconfiguration of a fuselage with a width that allows four lines ofblocks to be installed, two lines of which are placed close to eachother so that they almost touch and are bordered by an aisle on eachside of the said two lines placed close together.

In order to allow the seats 3 of the first block 2 at the front of aline of blocks to benefit from the bed configuration with the desiredbed length, a column 4 e, similar to the column 4 of a block 2 but notintegrated into a block, is arranged in the cabin 1 at the location thatthis column would have if another block was located in front of theblock in question.

This column 4 e may be isolated, as in the example illustrated in FIG.3, or advantageously be integrated into other fittings, for exampleseparating partitions of the cabin, cloakrooms or storage units.

The rearmost block of a line of blocks is also in a particularsituation, as there is no other block behind it.

The column of this block is advantageously used to create storage spaceswhich may or may not be integrated into fittings in a rear part of thecabin 1.

In an embodiment, the foot recesses 41 in the columns 4 have depths P ofapproximately 500 mm and the seat pitch X is 1524 mm (60 inches), whichmakes it possible to form flat beds of at least 1800 mm with a seatpitch generally associated with seats limited to the relaxedconfiguration.

A layout comprising five blocks per line, such as the layout shown inFIG. 3, thus requires a cabin length 1380 mm less than that which wouldbe necessary to install an equivalent number of flat beds of the samelength, using the known seats in the current layouts.

It will be noted that this saving in bed length along with a reducedseat pitch is achieved at the cost of wider blocks of seats owing to thepresence of the column 4 between the two seats 3 of a block 2.

This widening is, however, compensated by a combination of the shapeschosen for the different elements forming a block.

On the one hand, when viewed from above the column 4 has an overalltriangular section, with the apex pointing forwards, which shape is madepossible by the convergence of the axes 34 of the seats of each block 2.

This shape makes it possible to limit the required spacing at the seatbacks 32 in the chair configuration, the seat backs 32 a being, asillustrated for the front block 2 a in FIG. 1, in a relatively advancedposition in which the column has a relatively small width.

On the other hand, the seat backs 32 of the seats 3 have a reduced widthin an upper part of the seat back in the chair configuration. The areawith this reduced width corresponds, for an adult of standard bodyshape, to a headrest area which does not require as great a width as aback area.

Thus, when the seat back is inclined backwards so as to place the seatin the relaxed configuration or in the bed configuration, the upper partof the seat back 32 is capable of assuming a position further back thanin the chair configuration without interfering with the column 4.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, at the intermediate block shown in thebed configuration, the shape of the seat back 32 c is adapted to thepresence of the column and also makes it possible to reduce the maximumwidth of the shell 21, on the side opposite the column 4, from the widththat the shell 21 would have if the seat back 32 had a constant width.

In an embodiment, without making any still possible concession on thewidth of the seat cushion of the seats, in other words preserving acomfortable width of 533 mm (21 inches) for the seat cushion 31, thewidth of the blocks 2 of two seats is increased from 1372 mm (54inches), in a conventional configuration with two seats side by sidewith no separation and parallel axes, to a width of 1448 mm (57 inches).

Analyses of the layouts in various aeroplane cabins show that there isusually no particular problem in increasing the width of the blocks, by76 mm in the exemplary embodiment, when the cross section of thefuselage means that the width of the aisle or aisles between the linesof blocks needs to be reduced as a consequence.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the blocks are produced soas to conform to different bed lengths.

By adapting the dimensions of the leg rest and/or of movable panelsbetween the seat cushion 31 and the foot area 41, and by adapting thepitch X of the blocks, the length of the beds in a block can be easilyincreased or reduced.

This advantage allows in particular a cabin with a greater degree ofcomfort to be provided or the configuration of a cabin to be optimizedby offering, without undermining the design of the blocks themselves,some seats with beds that are longer than average and/or beds which areshorter than average by modifying the pitch X with which the blocks 2are installed.

This solution proves to be particularly advantageous when the length ofa cabin, which may be determined by other factors (exits, fixtures ofthe aeroplane, etc.), does not correspond exactly to a whole number ofblocks arranged at a standard pitch and when some seats may be“lengthened” in order to meet exceptional needs for somelarger-than-average passengers.

The invention thus makes it possible to produce very comfortable seatsin the bed configuration with a pitch between the seats that issubstantially less than the bed length, and to fit out cabins forpassengers, in particular aeroplane cabins, with a greater number ofseats than when they are fitted out with the known seats for a given bedlength and a given cabin, or to reduce the length of a cabin for a givennumber of seats and a given bed length.

1. A block (2) comprising at least two seats (3, 3′), in which at leasttwo adjoining seats (3) can be converted individually, by a relativemovement of elements (31, 32, 33) of each seat, between a chairconfiguration in which an occupant of the seat is in a seated positionand a bed configuration in which elements of the seat form a bed plane(35) and in which an occupant of the seat is stretched out substantiallyflat and substantially horizontally, in which block the two seats (3)are arranged side by side and oriented substantially in the samedirection, characterized in that: each of the at least two seats (3) isassociated with a space situated in front of the said seat in the bedconfiguration and in the extension of the bed plane, a so-called footarea (41), in the extension of the bed plane (35) of the said seat; alongitudinal axis (34) of each of the at least two seats (3) in the bedconfiguration converges towards a convergence point situated in avertical plane of symmetry of the block in front of the said seats suchthat the foot areas (41) of the said at least two seats of the block areat least partially superposed in a vertical projection; when the atleast two seats (3) are in the bed configuration, the bed plane (35) ofone of the said at least two seats is situated at a different height,relative to a reference surface corresponding to a cabin floor when thesaid block is installed in a cabin, from the bed plane of the other ofthe said at least two seats.
 2. A block according to claim 1,comprising, in a rear part substantially between the seat backs (32) ofthe said at least two seats (3), when the said at least two seats are inthe chair configuration, a separating space occupied by a substantiallyvertical column (4), the said column covering in a vertical projectionfoot areas (41) of the seats of a similar block which would be placedbehind the block (2) in question, in the same direction andsubstantially with the same axis, at a separating distance between thetwo blocks, termed the block pitch X, which is less than a desiredlength L0 of the bed of the said similar block behind.
 3. A blockaccording to claim 2, in which the bed plane (35) in the bedconfiguration is vertically above the position of a seat cushion (31) ofthe seat in the chair configuration for at least one of the seats (3,3′).
 4. A block according to claim 2, in which the bed plane (35) in thebed configuration is vertically below the position of a seat cushion(31) of the seat in the chair configuration for at least one of theseats (3).
 5. A block according to claim 2, in which, when the at leasttwo seats (3) are in the bed configuration, the bed plane (35) of one ofthe two seats is vertically above the position of the seat cushions (31)of the seats in the chair configuration, and the bed plane (35) of theother seat is below the position of the seat cushions (31).
 6. A blockaccording to claim 2, in which the column (4) comprises two foot areas(41) separated from each other and open in the direction of the rear ofthe block (2), each foot area (41) comprising a rest surface (42)substantially in a horizontal plane, the foot areas (41) beingvertically offset such that one of the rest surfaces (42) is situated atthe height of the bed plane (35) of one of the seats (3) of the block(2) and the other at the height of the bed plane (35) which is differentfrom another seat of the said block.
 7. A block according to claim 6, inwhich the bed plane (35) of a seat in the bed configuration isdetermined by the seat cushion (31) of the said seat, the seat back (32)of the said seat, a leg rest (33) of the said seat and/or one or moremovable panels, the plane being extended by a rest surface (42) of afoot area (41) of a similar block which would be placed in front of theblock (2) in question or of an isolated column having characteristicssimilar to the column of such a similar block, the said seat cushion,seat back, leg rest, movable panels and rest area being alignedsubstantially horizontally and in a same plane to form the bed.
 8. Ablock according to claim 2, in which the bed plane (35) of a seat (3,3′) in the bed configuration is determined by the seat cushion (31) ofthe said seat, the seat back (32) of the said seat and a leg rest (33)of the said seat, the said leg rest forming at least partially a restsurface (42) of a foot area (41) which penetrates a hollow space of thecolumn (4, 4′) of a similar block which would be placed in front of theblock (2) in question or of an isolated column having characteristicssimilar to the column of such a similar block, the said seat cushion,seat back and leg rest being aligned substantially horizontally and in asame plane to form the bed.
 9. A block according to claim 7, in whichthe bed planes (35) of two adjacent seats (3, 3′), when the said twoseats are both in the bed configuration, are vertically offset by adistance of approximately 330 mm.
 10. A block according to claim 2, inwhich the column (4) integrates technical equipment for the block and/orcomfort or entertainment equipment (43) which can be used by theoccupants of the seats of a block situated behind the block (2) inquestion.
 11. A block according to claim 2, in which a closed structure(24) between two seats (3, 3′) comprises a side trim panel (241)situated on a side of the said closed structure corresponding to a seatin which the seat cushion is lowered during the conversion into the bedposition, the said side trim panel being removable when the said seat inwhich the seat cushion is lowered is in the bed configuration.
 12. Ablock according to claim 2, comprising, in its rear part, a recess (23)forming a storage space between the level of a floor to which it isintended to fix the block and the height of the lowest bed, runningacross the width of the said block.
 13. A block according to claim 2,formed by two seats (3) with convergent longitudinal axes (34).
 14. Ablock according to claim 2, formed by three seats (3, 3′), two adjacentseats (3) having convergent longitudinal axes (34), the third seat (3′)having a longitudinal axis (34′) substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the seat (3) closest to it in the block, the saidseat (3) closest to it being a seat having a seat cushion which moves upwhen the seat is converted into the bed configuration.
 15. A cabin (1)or a part of a cabin for transporting passengers, having at least oneline of at least two blocks (2) of at least two seats (3, 3′), in whichblocks each seat (3) of a block (2) can be converted individually, by arelative movement of elements (31, 32, 33) of the seat, between a chairconfiguration in which an occupant of the seat is in a seated positionand a bed configuration in which the elements of the seat form a bedplane and in which an occupant of the seat is stretched outsubstantially flat and substantially horizontally, in which blocks theseats (3, 3′) are arranged side by side and oriented substantially inthe same direction, the said at least two blocks being arranged onebehind the other in the same direction of orientation of the seats andseparated, in a direction of the line of blocks, by a pitch Xcharacterizing the distance between a reference point of each of theblocks (2), the said cabin being characterized in that, for each of theseats (3, 3′) of a block (2), following another block which precedes itin the direction of orientation of the seats (3, 3′), in the bedconfiguration a bed plane (35) of each seat (3) is extended by a footarea (41) situated in front of the said seat, inside the block precedingit, in a built-in space, termed a column (4) or secondary column (4′),between the seat backs (32) of the seats (3, 3′) of the said precedingblock, and in that the bed planes (35) of two adjacent seats (3) of ablock (2) in the bed configuration are at different heights above afloor of the cabin (1) such that the foot areas (41) of the said twoseats arranged depending on the said different heights inside the column(4) are superposed in the said column.
 16. A cabin according to claim15, in which a seat (3, 3′) of a block (2) which has the bed planesituated vertically closest to the floor of the cabin (1) is situated ona side of the block (2) which is bordered by an aisle.
 17. A cabinaccording to claim 16, in which the pitch X of the blocks (2) of atleast one line of blocks is modified to form, in the bed configuration,beds with different lengths L0 depending on the block (2) in question.18. A cabin according to claim 15, in which the frontmost block (2) in aline of blocks is preceded, at the front in a direction of orientationof the seats (3) of the said line, by a built-in column (4 e) similar toa column (4) of a block (2).
 19. A vehicle for transporting passengers,comprising a cabin or part of a cabin according to claim 15, the saidvehicle belonging to one of the categories of transporting passengers byland, sea or air.
 20. A block according to claim 8, in which the bedplanes (35) of two adjacent seats (3, 3′), when the said two seats areboth in the bed configuration, are vertically offset by a distance ofapproximately 330 mm.